franklin_m

Budreau is leaving (see below).

Assistant ED retires recently, CFO steps down not that long ago, and now the ED leaves. In response to this post, just like the CFOs departure, you'll hear a myriad of other reasons. But don't fall for the gaslighting ... three high level departures (whatever the stated reasons) in around a year is cause for alarm. This is happening for a reason. And could that reason be the economic trajectory of the organization that I've illustrated? "The world wonders..."

https://amablog.modelaircraft.org/bl...228.1726335604

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Oh stop with the conspiracy crap.

Joyce was around AMA since the wright brothers flew their first prototype, she retired.

CFO was in place several years, moved on to spend time with his grand children. Edit to note that CFO is a volunteer position just like the VP's (though the VP's, EVP and President are elected) and we on-boarded an amazing and very sharp replacement that has taken over the CFO duties in a seamless transition.

Chad took a job back in the industry he came from at a salary we wouldn't have hoped to matched and if we tried you would be screaming from the roof top about salaries.

franklin_m

^^^^ As predicted ...

Yet one cannot (nor should they) ignore the fact that three most senior people have departed, the three most senior people responsible management that generated the RESULTS over the past many years. ED, Assistant ED, and CFO (trio who left in quick succession) have been there together for the last 15 years (since 2009 for the calculations below). Here's their collective RESULTS:

• Spending EXCEEDED revenue in 10 of the 14 years
• Net assets DECREASED 43.1%
• Membership revenue DECREASED 29.8%
• Total revenue DECREASED 26.9%
• Event sanctions DECREASED 30.5%
• Charter club fees DECREASED 21.1%
• Program Expenses (spending on core mission of AMA) DECREASED 30.5%

• Non Program Expenses (spending things NOT core to AMA mission) INCREASED 37.9%
• Total staff compensation INCREASED 22.7%
• Magazine costs exceeded revenue by $20.1 MILLION dollars (cumulative)

And yet we're to believe this flurry of departures in top positions has nothing to do with the RESULTS?

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

LOL AMA has the staff reduction that Franklin has been wanting for well over a decade and he still cries like a little spoiled child.

franklin_m

That's a little reductive ... even for you.

Hardly crying, celebrating more like it. With the "Results" they've generated, one could make an argument the departures at a decade too late.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

The only departure I’m interested in seeing is yours.

franklin_m

Honest question ...

What's wrong with wanting to see even a modicum of accountability for the results on their watch?

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Honestly nothing. Guess what though, you don’t always get what you want. They are 100% within their rights to refuse your request. Most people would however leave it at that and decide not to buy the product, not go on a decades long crusade. That said, you are within your rights to have your crusade as I am within my rights to voice my opinion about your crusade.

That said, I find it rather funny that you desire to hold others accountable while ducking accountability yourself. A great example is your continued refusal to accept accountability for your being banned from RCG for your constant off topic posting. You continually criticized the AMA and their members in an ADVOCACY FORUM which can’t be viewed as anything but off topic posting. I simply pointed it out to moderation, they decided to take action. Yet you for years accused me for being the sole person responsible for your banishment. I’m betting that you will do so again after reading this. Feel free to do so, I couldn’t care less.

franklin_m

You got someone banned from RCG ... clearly something that'll be memorialized forever in the lore of model aviation.

Meanwhile, I helped FAA justify not allowing AMA to manage registrations ( "inherently governmental" in comments on registration rule ), got FAA to declare that membership in CBO was NOT required to satisfy conditions of 336 (apparently so big a deal that "Dear Leader" felt necessary to devote an entire column to it in MA), and I brought the disinfecting sunshine on the AMA's financial performance.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Well poop, I guess the first step to convincing people your delusions are real is to first convince yourself…..

init4fun

Hydro Junkie

Okay guys, that's enough.
We all know what's happened over the past 10 years, both in Muncie and here in the forum.
The question now is "How is the new management going to do?" Those coming in are going to have a bunch of stuff to deal with:
1) The "ME FIRST!!" mentality that the old management didn't seem to want to deal with
2) The limited assets available
3) The bloated payroll(that one really depends on who you talk to)
4) The "Good Old Boys" mentality of "It's always worked before so it should work now"

No matter how you look at it, there are several serious decisions that have to be made and you members had better start thinking about what you want the results of those decisions to be or Franklin's "doom and gloom", as Speed calls it, will be factual history in the not too distant future. I would recommend you all start working together on this and pass on your thoughts to the VPs ASAP

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Personally I don’t expect any changes on the way AMA functions. We have to face the facts that there is just not enough interest in model airplanes to keep the industry alive past our own lives. That said, during that time there will be a core membership of guys such as myself that have been in the hobby since childhood that will continue to participate for as long as they are physically able. When this core group dies so will the AMA and the hobby. Until then as I have said before the dues can go up to $200 a year and that core group will continue to join and be happy in the value/product they receive.

RACE 66

Guys I just got onto this little tidbit yesterday, take a look at it and let me know your thoughts. I am for a common sense aspect not wanting to "rile" people up,
just a nice discussion if it comes to that. Thanks.

Link:

Hydro Junkie

I LOVE IT!!!!! That pretty much says what I've been saying in here for years
The problem is that AMA members tend to not see this stuff as a problem. A "MEMBERS ONLY" sign tends to tell people "KEEP OUT" unless they are brought in by or are invited by a member. This actually happens in a lot of organizations. The Moose, Eagles, Elks and Masons are all similar in that you must be invited to a function just to get an application to join. The American Legion requires members be former military or related to someone that is to get a membership, while the hardest of all seems to be combat veterans organizations such as the VFW. All of these require yearly membership dues to attend activities or use facilities. Being a former Eagles member, I know they have the main facility for each branch, some with camping facilities, most with dancing and dinners on Friday and Saturday, fund raisers for various things, etc. I'm sure the rest are similar in what they offer as well.
Where all these differ from the AMA and flying clubs is once you're a member, you can go to any location and use the facilities for free. You can't go to another club's field without paying a fee of some sort and being invited in AFTER SHOWING YOUR AMA CARD. Before my membership lapsed, I went to several different Eagles lodges, showed my card and walked right in with no questions asked or hassles, even taking a motorhome to one in Eastern Washington for a weekend event not related to the lodge itself. We did have "afterparties" on Friday and Saturday night in the lodge as well as participated in the prime rib dinner on Friday before our offsite event. I may have to renew my membership, those were good times​​​​​​​

franklin_m

Also, did anyone else notice that although they say that Chad is leaving, the only opening posted on the website is a "Government Affairs Manager." Despite saying there were interested in applicants, by actual actions (postings), it sure looks like they've pre-selected Tyler to replace Chad.

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

More hearsay of yours.

The advertised position worked under Tyler.

He has to apply for the full time job just like any other internal or outside applicant.

franklin_m

With only three people in the entire government affairs group, who exactly is the "Government Affairs MANAGER" going to manage?

Presumably not Tyler, so are you saying you're hiring a manager to manage one or at most two people? If so, no wonder staff costs keep going up.